Attitudes and outcomes of specialized housing for incarcerated Veterans in county facilities

Abstract: This two-part study evaluates a county jail with veteran housing. Veteran detainees housed in Pinal County Adult Detention Center who self-identified as veterans between November 2017 and December 2022 will be evaluated. Three groups were evaluated a. Vet Unit: those housed from November 2017 until the unit’s closure in Feb 2020; b. No Vet Unit 1: housed outside of the veteran’s unit from November 2017 to February 2020; c. No Vet Unit 2: housed at the facility after the closure of the veteran’s unit from March 2020 to December 2022. The second part of this study aimed to learn about staff opinions of veteran specific units in county jails, by interviewing 10 sites nationwide. Veteran infraction rates showed significant differences with the vet unit having the highest rates of rearrest and rearrest within one year. However, Group C, post closure showed the highest rates of rearrest for new charges.

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